Variable price computing device for a multiproduct dispenser



Feb. 25, 1964 s. DANIELE 3,122,312

VARIABLE PRICE 'COMPUTING DEVICE FOR A MULTIPRODUCT DISPENSER Filed Oct. 10. 1960 Y s Sheets-Sheet 1 54,143: Dn (all.

VARIABLE PRICE COMPUTING DEVICE FOR A MULTIPRODUCT DISPENSER Filed Oct. 10. 1960 S. DANIELE Feb. 25, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 in vgntn r. inf; .pamkclt S. DANIELE Feb. 25, 1964 VARIABLE PRICE COMPUTING DEVICE FOR A MULTIPRODUCT DISPENSER jfn vzntan Jan'tz P406114.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 10, 1960 A l teracy? United States Patent VARIABLE PRICE COMPUTING DEVICEFOR A MULTIPRODUCT DISPENSER Saute Daniele, Genova-Rivarolo, Italy, assignor, by mesne assignments, "to Wayne Italiana S.p.A., Rome, Italy, an Italian company 1 Filed Oct. 10, 1960, Ser. No. 61,412

- Claims. (Cl.235-.-61)

It is known that in gasoline pumps for road distribution of fuel, with count-metering heads, used exclusively for the selling of only one type of fuel (normal gasoline, super gasoline or gas oil) the unit selling price is set once every time there occurs an increase or a reduction in price as. fixed for selling, in Italy by the C.I.P. with the approval of the competent government authorities.

Since those variations generally occur at intervals of years, the manual operation of setting the new unit selling price, which operation requires some minutes time, does not cause any appreciable inconvenience and substantially no damage to the manager of a gasoline pump station. I

Henceit can be. said that the present-day count-mete ing heads, which require setting by hand of the unit sell.- ing price in gasoline pumps which distribute only one type of fuel, are fully satisfactory and do not require in practice the application of any more modern means to render more rapid and automatic the operation of the setting of the unit price.

The time duration for the setting of the unit selling price acquires on the contrary a relevant importance when the count-metering head. is mounted in a gasoline pump for distributing mixtures of oil and gasoline, or in a distributor of mixtures of two types of gasoline with diiierent octane number.

The oil mixers aswell as the gasoline mixers deliver in practice from five to eight types of mixtures, to which there correspond as many unit selling prices.

The setting by hand of the unit selling. price each time the consumer selects and purchases a determined type of mixture, becomes obviously a slow operation which hinders the distributing service to the prejudice of rapidity- Therejhave been found mechanical solutions: to the problem of reducing the time for setting by hand the unit selling price; and there are also in use count-metering heads of special, construction which indicate, contemporaneously with the volumes of mixtures delivered, the

mathematical total of the sum to be payed in relationship with the volumetric ratio of the mixture and on the basis of the unit prices of the two fuels mixed, as determined basically (see Italian patents of the same applicant and inventor, Nos. 527,098, 563,806, 574,099); but both solutions hardly could suceed' in the market for the following clear reasons:

- The mechanical solution for the reduction of the time of manual setting is little used, firstly owing to the fact that said setting always requires an appreciable length of time in contrast to the maximum rapidity of gasoline pump service and, secondly, owing to the continual manipulation of the unit price variator which may lead to erroneous setting andv cause suspicion and. discouragement of the consumer.

, The solution of the special head, which provides, contemporaneously with the indication of the volumes of mixture delivered, the total mathematical amount of the sum to be paid, as described above, excellently meets the requirements of distribution and satisfies the managers of gasoline pump road stations as long as the unit prices of the two basical components are established in integers of three digits, comprised in the range of from. 600 to 999 and the unit prices resulting from the, various 2 volumetric proportions of the mixture too are. in integers With three digits, comprised in the range of from 000 to 999.

In the case of a distributor of gasoline mixtures, the apparatus can distribute normal gasoline with 84/86 octane number, or super gasoline with 98/100 octane number, or three more or five or more types of gasoline with intermediate octane numbers, obtained by mixing the two basic types in predetermined volumetric ratios.

It may happen that for a type of gasoline with intermediate octane number, as a consequence of the predetermined volumetric proportions, the mathematical unit selling price is composed of three integers and of one or more decimal digits. In such case it is necessary tohave recourse to rounding off of the resulting unit price, by subtraction or by addition, to bring it down or up to a number of three integers; but that is not possible without adequately varying the basic unit prices of the normal gasoline or of the super gasoline, which, being legally established over the whole of Italy, must remain unvaried and fixed for the public.

At the present time the special count-metering head with mathematical calculation of the amount tobe paid for mixtures of two component fuels is still acceptable, even if in some case it may cause loss or profit to the service station orto the customer; but if in the near future the Italian petroleum companies in agreement with the C.I.P. and with the competent government authori ties, should decide upon selling the intermediate gasoline mixtures, betweennormal and super, at a unit price different from the mathematical one, as is the case in the United States of America at present, then also that special type of count-metering head would not meet adequately the requirements of the gasoline pump stations.

there occur at the present time about the same inconveniences as indicated forthe distributors of gasoline mixtures, but to smaller extent, because for the two components, the C.I.P. has fixed legally only the unit price of the gasoline, normal or super, which forms part of the mixtures, while the oil has a unit selling price free to competition.

However the petroleum companies have established by mutual agreement, outside the C.I.P., a unit price for each type of oil and gasoline and, therefore distributors with special count-metering head set the unit s elling price of the oil at a suificiently higher figure with respect to the market price in such a manner that the mathematical amount to be paid as indicated on the face (diahplate) of the distributor becomes as close as established selling price.

From what has been set forth here above it might seem that the subject dealt with regards details of second- 'ary importance and. of little value, but such it is not to the companies and organizations which manage the service stations for distribution of fuel (gasoline pump stations). particularly one considers that a slight difference less or plus of 20 or 30 cents of lira for one litre of oil or fuel becomes respectable when figured on millions of litres sold, and that therefore the difference in fiuences. definitely the decision of the manager of the service station about the convenience or not of adopting mixers with count-metering heads. i I

In fact it is generally known to everybody and specially to the skilled: in the art that the majority of managers of fuel service, stations, thoughthey recognize that the mixer with count-metering head affords advantageous service for automatic and rapid distribution, prefer to adopt mixers 0f the volumetric type, rather than tov compute the amounts due from the customer. with the aid of tables or manuals or other personal methods.

Even if the volumetric methodv is slower and somewhat Patented Feb. 25, 1964 With the distributor of mixtures of oil and gasoline,

possible to the I obsolete, one must recognize that it permits the manager to avoid any risk of totalizing losses compared with the mixer having a count-metering head, where he is compelled to round off by subtracting some cents of lira from the unit price of one type or of all the types of mixture, as agreed upon by the various petroleum companies which control the fuel distribution.

The present invention solves radically the problem set forth by ensuring the setting of the unit selling price of any value in a manner instantaneously synchronized with the setting operation.

Hence it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for varying the unit selling price in countmetering heads for oil and gasoline mixtures, or for mixtures of gasolines having different octane numbers, which is of the type comprising a primary shaft connected to the counter of the volumes delivered and moved by means of a differential mechanism by the volumetric mixers of the individual components of the mixture, and as many secondary shafts as there are digits composing the unit prices of the mixtures, the movement of each secondary shaft being derived from the main shaft through gears with adjustable transmission ratios, and characterized in that between the main shaft and each of the secondary shafts there is inserted a ratio-variator, with pre-selection of the ratio controlled by means of electric push-buttons, the push-buttons relative to the variators of the various secondary shafts being grouped and arranged in columns side by side on a special external setting dial.

Further characteristics will appear in the course of the description, which for the sake of greater clearness relates to a possible embodiment illustrated merely by way of example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 represents a diagrammatical view of the device as applied to a distributor of two gasolines with different octane numbers having selling prices comprised between and 999 (that is to say, three digits);

FIGS. 2 and 3 represent diagrammatically in elevation and in plan, respectively, the arrangement of the connection between the secondary shafts and the primary shaft;

FIGS. 4 and 5 represent the front view of a mobile disc and of a fixed disc, respectively, of the setting dial; and

FIG. 6 represents a partial view in section of the connection between the fixed disc and mobile disc.

By 1 is indicated the primary shaft whereon there is rigidly fitted a cone of gears 21 through 29, respectively, with the nine steps, which takes its rotary motion from its lower end, which is connected, through a differential mechanism 2, to two volumetric meters A and B and transmits it from its upper end to the partial counter of volumes 3. 4- indicates three secondary shafts on each of which are fixed, conveniently interspaced, nine gears 6, one for each step of the cone of gears 20.

Each gear 6, which in rest position is not connected with the cone of gears, can be clicked-in with the corresponding step of the cone 20, in working position, through a square lever 7 and an idling toothed wheel 8.

Each lever 7 rotating around the secondary shaft 4, carries at one end the pin of rotation of the corresponding idler wheel; and at its other end it is connected, through a forked link and a return spring 9-10, to an electromagnet 11.

Each electromagnet is connected with one of the twentyseven push-buttons of a keyboard (FIGS. 5 and 6), accommodated on a fixed dial 12. The push-buttons 15 are disposed in three columns of nine push-buttons arranged radially, numbered from 0 to 9 and representing the units, the tens and the hundreds of a three-digit figure.

By 13 is indicated a mobile dial rotating around the ax1s of the fixed dial 12. The mobile d-ial carriesfor each of the five types of mixture which are to be selected, before delivering, three grooves 16 arranged radially and corresponding to the three columns of push-buttons or keys of the keyboard of the fixed dial 12. ,In each groove 16 there slides a button 14 which may be fixed in any of the ten positions (including zero) defined by ten circular enlargement-s 17 in each groove 16. The positions of the three buttons slidable in the respective three grooves of the mobile dial determines a combination of three digits, within the range of the interval 000 to 999, which represents the unit selling price of one litre of fuel, be it mixed or not.

The electrical solenoid circuits are completed as shown in FIG. 6 by the movement of contact springs 15 mounted on intermediate stationary disc 12 of insulating material through the holes in disc 12 into engagement with contact elements or buttons 15 mounted on stationary insulated plate 12. Coil springs 18 react between the contact-operating heads of buttons 14 and plate 13 within which central portions of buttons are inserted in sockets 17 in a direction to maintain buttons 14 resiliently engaged with contact springs 15 to provide the aforementioned selective switch operation as rotating plate or dial 13 is turned.

Operation of the device is as follows: A gasoline mixer is supposed to be for mixing gasolines having different octane numbers (or oils and gasoline) for which there is provided the possibility of delivering five types of fuels, to each of which a unit selling price is to be attributed of any value provided it be comprised within the interval 000 through 999 lire. On the mobile dial 13 there are indicated at separate price selecting stations five types of fuels (corresponding to as many mixtures) namely fuels of types 860, 895, 930, 965, 1000 (which are marked on FIG. 4 to designate each of the aforementioned price selecting stations on dial 13) for each of which it is intended to establish, for instance in lire, the following unit selling price:

L. a litre for the type 860 L. 128 a litre for the type 895 L. 130 a litre for the type 930 L. 133 a litre for the type 965 L. 135 a litre for the type 1000 For each type of fuel the operator makes the three activating buttons 14 slide in the respective three grooves 16, constituting adjustable control element arrays, of the mobile dial 13. Thus, the operator fixes, for the 860 type fuel, the button of the uppermost groove under the legend 860 (when looking at FIG. 4 of the drawing) in the circular enlargement 17 corresponding to the numeral 1; and fixes the button of the second, central, groove 16 in the circular enlargement 17 of that groove corresponding to the numeral 2, and fixes the button of the third groove in the circular enlargement 17 corresponding to numeral 5. Enlargements 17 therefore comprise radially disposed arrays of electrical contact positions which can be individually activated by contact buttons or elements 14.

An identical operation is carried out as indicated in the drawing for the remaining four types of fuel, thereby setting their respective unit prices.

By an angular rotation of the mobile dial 13 (which is connected rigidly with the axis of the volumetric proportioning device for the mixtures), the operator fixes the type of fuel which one wants to be delivered and at the same time sets the corresponding unit price established by the price prescriptions.

When the position of the mobile dial on the fixed dial 12 for the selected fuel type is attained, the three buttons 14 fixed in the three respective grooves 16 compress by action of springs 18 (FIG. 6), which are disposed around their shanks, the conducting, spring terminals 15 of an insulating plate 12', which is disposed between the dials 12 and 13, thereby bringing the compressed terminals 15 into engagement with the corresponding push-buttons 15' of the keyboard of the fixed dial and thereby to admit electric current to the respective electromagnets 11. Each energized electro-magnet 1 1 causes a small angular rotation of the corresponding lever 7 to effect the clickingin or engagement of the corresponding gears 6 and '8 of the three secondary shafts 4 with the corresponding gears of the cone 29* of gears of the primary shaft 1, thereby realizing the instantaneous setting of the unit selling price as predetermined. The electromagnets fl, electrical leads and contact buttons 15' between the price-selecting stations (constituted by the five groups of three grooves 16) and transmission gear assemblies 6, 7 and 8 therefore comprise coupling means. Shafts 4 are connected through adding differential 50 to price counter 5. Add ing differential '56 is :a compound differential including first stage 52 and second stage 54. In FIG. 1 is shown output gear '56 connected to the'top of left-hand secondary shaft 4,, output gear 58 connected to the top of righthand secondary shaft 4- and output gear 6i) connected to thetop of rear secondary shaft 4'. Output gears 5s and 58 are connected to first differential stage 5'2 in the fol lowing manner. I

First differential stage 52 includes a rotatably mounted spider 62 upon which are rotatably mounted dual planetary gears 64. Output gear 56 isengaged with spider driving gearo, and output gear 58 is engaged with intermediate gear 63 concentrically connected with inner sun gear 7% of first differential stage 5'2. Output sun gear 72 provides an output from first differential stage 52 corresponding to the total inputs tofirst differential stage 52 from output gears 56 and 58 on respective shaftsd.

This total is introduced into second differential stage 54 through sun gear 74 coaxially connected to output sun gear 72 of first stage 52. The output from gear so on rear shaftd is introduced into second stage 54 through spider driving gear 76, and the output from the second stage is taken off through outer sun gear 78 which meshes with dual spider gears 8ft. The rotation of output sun gear 78' corresponds to the total rotational output of all three secondary shafts 4 This output is connected to pricetcounter 5' through meshed gears 32 and 84, shaft 36 and bevel gear transmission 88.

After the delivery of a determined volume of fuel, the partial totalizer or volume counter 3 (FIG. 1) of the litres will indicate the number of litres delivered; and the partial totalizer 5 of lire will indicate the amount to be paid, which will be equal to the number of litres delivered multiplied bythe unit price set. The same operation is repeated for the delivery of any one of the other four or more types of fuel for which the mixer has been designed.

I claim:

1. In a gasoline pump having an adjustable volumetric proportioning device including volumetric meters for the res ective fractions for providing different fuel mixtures, a volumetric counter for indicating the volume of fuel mixture metered and a totalizer for indicating the price of the metered volume, a rotatable primary shaft connected to the volumetric counter to actuate the same, differential summation means connected to the volumetric meters and to said shaft to actuate said shaft in accordance with the aggregate volume of the mixture, a piurality of secondary shafts corresponding in number to the digits in a unit price of amixture, a plurality of selectively engageable sets of gearing connected to said primary shaft and to said secondary shafts, respectively for selectively connecting each secondary shaft to said primary shaft, to drive each secondary shaft from the primary shaft at selectively different ratios and means for selectively engaging the different sets of gearing between said primary shaft and each secondary shaft comprising a plurality of electromagnets, onefor each set of gearing, an adjustable dial, a plurality of groups of buttons, each group of buttons comprising as many buttons as there are secondary shafts, and each button being adjustable on said dial in at least as many positions as there are different sets of gearing for connecting each secondary shaft to said primary shaft, a carrier, a plurality of switches arranged in a plurality of groups on said carrier, there being as many groups of switches as there are secondary shafts and there being as many switches in each group as there are different sets of gearing for connecting each secondary shaft to said primary shaft, each of said switches being electrically connected to a respective electromagnet, said dial being adjustable relative to said carrier to bring different groups p ary shafts coaxially thereof, and a plurality of pinions each of which constantly meshes with one of said gears on a secondary shaft, and which is selectively engageable with one of said gears on said primaryshaft to form one of said sets of gearing, and wherein said first-named means further comprises a plurality of levers each of which is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on one of said secondary shafts, each of said levers being connected at one end to one of said electromagnets, and having one of said pinions rotatably mounted onthe opposite end thereof, a spning constantly urging each lever in a directionto disengage its pinion from a gear on said primary shaft, and each of said electromagnets being operative upon operation of its associated switch to pivot v the lever connected thereto to engage the pinion carried by said last-named lever with one of said gears on said primary shaft to transmit the rotation of the latter to the corresponding secondary shaft. i

3'. in a gasoline'pump as claimed in claim 2 wherein there are threeof said secondary shafts, eachof which has nine of said levers mounted thereon, and wherein there are three of said groups of switches on said carrier, each of said groups of switches consisting of nine switches connected, respectively, to the electromagnets controlling the nine levers on a respective secondary shaft, andeach of said buttons in a respective group of buttons is adjustable into one of ten different positions, in one of which ten positions a button of a respective group of buttons will not register with a switch when said dial is adjusted to bring said last-named group of buttons into operative relation to said switches. I

4. 'In a gasoline pump of the type having an adjustable volumetric proportioning device including metering devices for the respective fractions for providing different fuel mixtures, means operated by said metering devices for registering the aggregate volume of the mixture, and meansfor registering the total cost of the fuel mixture metered, apparatus for varying the unit selling price of the fuel mixture metered, comprising a dial adapted to be secured to said device, said dial having a-nguiarly spaced groups of radiaily extending slots therethrough corresponding, respectively, to different fuel mixtures, a button mounted in each slot andradially slidable into one of ten adjusted positions which is equivalent to one of the digits in the unit selling price of a fuel mixture, and which corresponds to one of the digits zero through nine, a stationary dial disposed beneath said movable dial and having a group of switches mounted therein radial rows of nine switches each, and said rows being equal in number to the number of slots in a respective group of slots in said movable dial, said movable dial being operative,

I to move one of said spaced groups of slots into superto connect said cost totalizing means to said volume registering means in a selected drive ratio corresponding to the unit price selected by said dial.

5. A device for computing the cost of a number of differently-priced fluid products dispensed from a multiproduct fluid dispensing apparatus comprising a stack of ratio gears, said stack including gears corresponding to the different numbers in a money system, sets of transmission gear assemblies mounted adjacent to said stack of ratio gears, said sets corresponding to difierent columns of a money system, each of said sets having a transmission gear assembly aligned-for engaging each of said ratio get s in said stack, shiftable means mounting each of said transmission gear assemblies for individual engagement and disengagement with respective ratio gears in said stack, an input means from said apparatus connected to said ratio gears for rotating them in accordance with the quantity of fluid product being dispensed, output means connected to each of said sets for providing an indication of the total cost of said fluid being dispensed, adjustable selecting means for selecting the price-quantity ratios to which said device is adjusted corresponding to the different products being dispensed, said adjustable selecting means having a number of price-selecting stations corresponding to the number of different products dispensed by said apparatus, adjustable control element arrays upon each of said stations of said selecting means corresponding to said sets of transmission gear assemblies, said adjustable control element arrays each having an element corresponding to each of said transmission gear assemblies in each of said sets, activating means connected with each of said control elements for selectively activating one of said elements in each of said arrays, and coupling means between said transmission gear as semblies and said selecting means operatively connecting said sets of transmission gear assemblies with said stations of said selecting means whereby said transmission gear assemblies in each of said sets corresponding to said activated control elements in each of said arrays are shifted into engagement with their respective ratio gear assemblies in accordance with the one of said stations selected.

6. A device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said sets of transmission gear assemblies include rotatably mounted levers having idler gears mounted upon the ends thereof.

7. A device as set forth in claim 6 wherein said coupling means comprises electrical solenoid-operated linkages connected between said stat-ions and said transmission gear assemblies.

8. A device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said adjustable selecting means comprises a first plate, said stations being radially disposed upon said plate, said arrays of control elements comprising radially disposed rows of electrical contact positions which can be individually activated, said coupling means comprising a second plate, arrays of contact elements disposed upon said second plate in positions corresponding to said arrays of control elements, and electrical solenoid circuit connections from said contact elements to each of said transmission gear assemblies.

9. A device as set forth in claim 8 wherein said second plate is stationarily mounted, said first plate being rotatably contact concentrically mounted adjacent said second plate, and an adjustable element in each of said rows of contact positions on said first plate for selectively contacting corresponding contact elements on said second plate.

10. A device as set forth in claim 9 wherein said rows of electrical contact positions on said first plate comprise sockets, slots connecting said sockets in each of said rows, said adjustable contact elements comprise buttons for insertion into said sockets, and said adjustable contact elements having resilient contact springs connected thereto for selectively engaging said contact elements on said second plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,044,975 Evans June 23, 1936 2,320,091 Loder May 25, 1943 2,641,271 Pressler June 9, 1953 2,836,361 Haupt May 27, 1958 2,880,908 Young Apr. 7, 1959 2,915,245 Casanova et al Dec. 1, 1959 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent 5 3, 122 312 February 25 1964 Sante Daniele he above numbered pat- It is hereby certified, that error appears in t Patent should read as ent requiring correction and that the said Letters corrected below.

insert as in column 8 Column 3, line 2 before "compared" the same in line 22 column 6,, line 64, before "radial" insert line 21 strike out "contact" and insert after "adjustab1e.

nd' sealed this 16th day of February 1965.

Signed a (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER ERNEST W. SWIDER r I Atte ting Officer Commissioner of Patents UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Sante Daniele in the above numbered patrtified that error appears ters Patent should read as It is hereby ce tion and that the said Let ent requiring correc corrected below.

Column 3 line 2, before "compared" insert as column 6, line 64, before "radial" insert in column 8 line 21 strike out "contact and insert the same in line 22 after "adjustable.

Signed and sealed this 16th day of February 1965 (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER ERNEST W. SWIDER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. IN A GASOLINE PUMP HAVING AN ADJUSTABLE VOLUMETRIC PROPORTIONING DEVICE INCLUDING VOLUMETRIC METERS FOR THE RESPECTIVE FRACTIONS FOR PROVIDING DIFFERENT FUEL MIXTURES, A VOLUMETRIC COUNTER FOR INDICATING THE VOLUME OF FUEL MIXTURE METERED AND A TOTALIZER FOR INDICATING THE PRICE OF THE METERED VOLUME, A ROTATABLE PRIMARY SHAFT CONNECTED TO THE VOLUMETRIC COUNTER TO ACTUATE THE SAME, DIFFERENTIAL SUMMATION MEANS CONNECTED TO THE VOLUMETRIC METERS AND TO SAID SHAFT TO ACTUATE SAID SHAFT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AGGREGATE VOLUME OF THE MIXTURE, A PLURALITY OF SECONDARY SHAFTS CORRESPONDING IN NUMBER TO THE DIGITS IN A UNIT PRICE OF A MIXTURE, A PLURALITY OF SELECTIVELY ENGAGEABLE SETS OF GEARING CONNECTED TO SAID PRIMARY SHAFT AND TO SAID SECONDARY SHAFTS, RESPECTIVELY FOR SELECTIVELY CONNECTING EACH SECONDARY SHAFT TO SAID PRIMARY SHAFT, TO DRIVE EACH SECONDARY SHAFT FROM THE PRIMARY SHAFT AT SELECTIVELY DIFFERENT RATIOS AND MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY ENGAGING THE DIFFERENT SETS OF GEARING BETWEEN SAID PRIMARY SHAFT AND EACH SECONDARY SHAFT COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF ELECTROMAGNETS, ONE FOR EACH SET OF GEARING, AN ADJUSTABLE DIAL, A PLURALITY OF GROUPS OF BUTTONS, EACH GROUP OF BUTTONS COMPRISING AS MANY BUTTONS AS THERE ARE SECONDARY SHAFTS, AND EACH BUTTON BEING ADJUSTABLE ON SAID DIAL IN AT LEAST AS MANY POSITIONS AS THERE ARE DIFFERENT SETS OF GEARING FOR CONNECTING EACH SECONDARY SHAFT TO SAID PRIMARY SHAFT, A CARRIER, A PLURALITY OF SWITCHES ARRANGED IN A PLURALITY OF GROUPS ON SAID CARRIER, THERE BEING AS MANY GROUPS OF SWITCHES AS THERE ARE SECONDARY SHAFTS AND THERE BEING AS MANY SWITCHES IN EACH GROUP AS THERE ARE DIFFERENT SETS OF GEARING FOR CONNECTING EACH SECONDARY SHAFT TO SAID PRIMARY SHAFT, EACH OF SAID SWITCHES BEING ELECTRICALLY CONNECTED TO A RESPECTIVE ELECTROMAGNET, SAID DIAL BEING ADJUSTABLE RELATIVE TO SAID CARRIER TO BRING DIFFERENT GROUPS OF BUTTONS INTO OPERATIVE RELATION TO SAID SWITCHES TO CLOSE THE SWITCHES REGISTERING WITH THE BUTTONS IN ONE GROUP OF SAID DIAL THEREBY TO ENERGIZE THE CORRESPONDING ELECTROMAGNETS, AND DIFFERENTIAL MEANS CONNECTING THE SECONDARY SHAFTS WITH SAID TOTALIZER TO ACTUATE SAID TOTALIZER UPON ROTATION OF SAID PRIMARY SHAFT. 